Connecticut western news., 1887-01-19

soon struck the Comanchc trail, and, ill advance of the dragons, pursued it until nightfall, when he found the savages cncamped. Returning to Col. Sumner after long and weary night ride he urged him to make forced march and surprise the Comanches. It was the only way, Carson argued, to rescue the prisoners alive, for it is a we'll known fact among old Indian fighters that when tue cruel redskins, when not taken by surprise, will retaliate on the attacking party by killing the prisoners sought to be rescued, in order to save their scalps, as every enemy's scalp, whether of man, woman or child, counts one Ca, as it is called. Of this. fact, 7 added Mir. Boggs, 'I am myself aware, Ilearned it while living with the Chey- cnnes and Arapahoes in 1s44. The Sioux and Comanches, as we'll as the sneaking Pawnees and kiowas, all do likewise. Their habits are simi- lar, roaming as they do over the same region of country on the great plains of Colorado and Northwestern Texas, up to the Yellowstone and the Missouri River on the north. But to re- turn to Carson and the Comanches. Be- fore setting out in pursuit he visited Gas he told me himselO the scene of the White massacre, which had been dis covered by Mexican. From the way in which the goods and other maternal lay scattered around he knew it was the work of Comanches, and this fact aided him in trailing. When he returned to Col. Sumner and the dragoons, and urged him, as l said before, to make a forced march SO as to reach the Indian village before daylight, the Colonel ask ed him:
 "'How many Indians are there in campa'
 "'From 300 to 4O0,' replied Carsoa; 'all fighting men, with their families
 "'Too many for me to handle,' said the Colonel. I have only sixty fighting regulars and about twenty-five volun- teers gathered in from surrounding ranches. cannot risk their lives against so large a party
 "Carson grew impatient. There is not moment to be lost, Colonel if you would surprise the Indians and rescue the women.' ..
 "I positively refuse to give the order to advance, Sumner said, with cool de- termination.
 "Then Carson's kind heart and daring courage asserted themselves. He turned from the cavalry Colonel with a slight gesture of contempt, and raising himself in his stirrups, while the fire of heroism flashed from his eyes, called out in a loud clear voice:
 "'Volunteers 1 want volunteers Who will ride with mo to save white women and children from torture and death?'
 'Carson knew a few of the Rocky Mountain boys in the party, who, of course, were at his side in moment, and number of the soldiers also offered to go. Here Col. Sumner interposed.
 Carson, said he, I will hold you re- sponsible for the lives of my men,
 Alright Colonel, replied the gal lant Kit, waving his hand, as at the head ofa party of thirty he dashed offinto the darkness on his mission of venge- ance and possibly of rescue.
 The action of Col. Sumner was that of trained and careful soldier, brave under all circumstances; but the art of war had taugh. him the folly of uselesly exposing the lives of men for whom he was responsible, as he would have done had he pitted 60 soldiers against 400 of warlike, desperate, and determined tribe of Indians, such as the Comanches were known to be. Carson, of course, was irresponsible, and his action was characteristic, taking all chances, and trusting to his Indian knowledge to bea the savages at their own game. We cal his ride reckless, b It at the same time admire the courage that prompted it.
 "They rode all n ,xt day and night reaching the Indian village little afte daylight, but unfortunately were dis covered by the Comanches, so that th' Indians had time 10 m ike break, an6 several of them got into the ravines ant brush. Carson's p;rty went to worl with a will, killing indiscriminatcly bucks, squaws, and papooses. One o the avengers, Doc Reed, singled out thu Indian who was dragging off the cap tive Mrs. White by the hair of the head in direction different from. that tn other redskins were taking, thinking doubtless, he might be able to escap unseen with his victim. The naples woman's body was terribly bruised a we'll as blistered by sunburns. Com plctely at tie mercy of the brawney say age, she, On hearing the yell of tn
 white men, as they dashed in to the at tack, fell down and was being dragged off in the manner described. Whe Reed discovered the situation, h
 wheeled his horse and spurred him tc
 ward the Indian, who shot an arrow ir
 to the feshy part of the riders back a
 his horse, being somewhat ur manageable, passed him. Br
 refining him up finally, an
 just as the Comanchc was about to lt sip another arrow It him, Reed drew
 steady bead on hi with large Colt